Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

# AGENCY:

U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

# ACTION:

Notice of open meeting.

# SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of a virtual meeting of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Advisory Committee (Committee). The meeting is open to the public and an opportunity for oral and written comments will be provided.

# DATES:

The meeting will be held on March 18, 2024 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST). Written public comments should be received by the Designated Federal Official by March 11, 2024.

# ADDRESSES:

                        The meeting will be held virtually. To register for the meeting and/or submit public comments, use this link                         *https://forms.gle/​MwbP2NXJhaz7cbuV8*                         or email                         *Laura.Gewain@noaa.gov.*                         See                         **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                         for instructions and other information about public participation.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Krisa Arzayus, Designated Federal Official, U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee, U.S. IOOS Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Phone 240-533-9455; Fax 301-713-3281; email                         *krisa.arzayus@noaa.gov*                         or visit the U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee website at                         *http://ioos.noaa.gov/​community/​u-s-ioos-advisory-committee/​.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Committee was established by the NOAA Administrator as directed by section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act, part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11), and reauthorized under the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-271). The Committee advises the NOAA Administrator and the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 12302 and section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 and other appropriate matters as the Under Secretary may refer to the Committee for review and advice.

The Committee will provide advice on:

(a) administration, operation, management, and maintenance of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (the System);

(b) expansion and periodic modernization and upgrade of technology components of the System;

(c) identification of end-user communities, their needs for information provided by the System, and the System's effectiveness in disseminating information to end-user communities and to the general public; and

(d) additional priorities, including—

                    (1) a national surface current mapping network designed to improve fine scale sea surface mapping using high frequency radar technology and other emerging technologies to address national priorities, including Coast Guard search and rescue operation                           ( print page 13313)                        planning and harmful algal bloom forecasting and detection that—                

(i) is comprised of existing high frequency radar and other sea surface current mapping infrastructure operated by national programs and regional coastal observing systems;

(ii) incorporates new high frequency radar assets or other fine scale sea surface mapping technology assets, and other assets needed to fill gaps in coverage on United States coastlines; and

(iii) follows a deployment plan that prioritizes closing gaps in high frequency radar infrastructure in the United States, starting with areas demonstrating significant sea surface current data needs, especially in areas where additional data will improve Coast Guard search and rescue models;

(2) fleet acquisition for unmanned maritime systems for deployment and data integration to fulfill the purposes of this subtitle;

(3) an integrative survey program for application of unmanned maritime systems to the real-time or near real-time collection and transmission of sea floor, water column, and sea surface data on biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and hydrography;

(4) remote sensing and data assimilation to develop new analytical methodologies to assimilate data from the System into hydrodynamic models;

(5) integrated, multi-State monitoring to assess sources, movement, and fate of sediments in coastal regions;

(6) a multi-region marine sound monitoring system to be—

(i) planned in consultation with the IOOC, NOAA, the Department of the Navy, and academic research institutions; and

(ii) developed, installed, and operated in coordination with NOAA, the Department of the Navy, and academic research institutions; and

(e) any other purpose identified by the Administrator or the Council.

## Matters To Be Considered

                    The meeting will focus on: (1) IOOC Strategic Plan, (2) final recommendations from the Phase 2 workplan, and (3) updates on the spring public meeting. The latest version of the agenda will be posted at                     *http://ioos.noaa.gov/​community/​u-s-ioos-advisory-committee/​.*                     The times and the agenda topics described here are subject to change.                

## Public Comment Instructions

                    The meeting will be open to public participation (check agenda on website to confirm time). The Committee expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of three (3) minutes. Written comments should be received by the Designated Federal Official by March 11, 2024, to provide sufficient time for Committee review. Written comments received after March 11, 2024, will be distributed to the Committee, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. To submit written comments, please fill out the brief form at                     *https://forms.gle/​MwbP2NXJhaz7cbuV8*                     or email your comments and the organization/company affiliation you represent to Laura Gewain,                     *Laura.Gewain@noaa.gov.*

## Special Accommodations

                    These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Krisa Arzayus, Designated Federal Official by phone (240-533-9455) or email (                    *Krisa.Arzayus@noaa.gov*) or to Laura Gewain (                    *Laura.Gewain@noaa.gov*) by March 11, 2024.                

Carl C. Gouldman,

Director, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Office, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[FR Doc. 2024-03597 Filed 2-21-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-NE-P